Is this lens ok for starters?

[Harvey_nikon]

After chatting to a friend of my brothers it turns out he has on older lens that he wants to sell on.

The lens is a Soligor 80-200mm F4.5 Zoom Macro Lens and is a Nikon AI fit. I've been told this will work on my D60 but will obviously be manual focus only, however for macro work I really can't see it being an issue.

He is asking £45 but said he would sell it to me for £40.

Is it worth getting? Is it a true macro lens? The whole "zoom macro" lens confuses me as the only shots I've seen with this lens was of tree blossom. Would it be okay for real close up insects and flowers etc?

Anyone got any shots from a lens like this?

Thanks

 

[seriousrikk]

OK, I don't know about the specific lens, but it will not be a true macro.

When a zoom lens has macro printed on the site it is rarely capable of better than 1:3 macro. Some will do 1:2. Now that might be enough for moderately close up shots of flowers and insects but to get closer you would still need extension tubes and/or a close up filter.

Best bet is try it, see how close it can focus.

 

[davekiddle]

As well being manual focus, AI fit lenses will not meter on your D60, so you will have to guesstimate the exposure.

If you want to play with macro, why not get a Raynox DCR-250 instead? This will give you a start in macro for about £50 and will fit on the front of your kit lens (assuming you have the 18-55mm ). I've just discovered the Raynox and am getting some great results with it.

 

[HoppyUK]

Soligor always made very average lenses, even back then. It might be fun for £40, but things have moved on

A macro lens is one that has been designed primarily for very close up photography. That lens never was, and nobody makes a true macro lens that zooms. They are all primes.